Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad Part 4

"I think you have forgotten, ma'am, that little girls and boys Are fond of dolls, and tops, and sleds, and b.a.l.l.s, and other toys; Why didn't you--I wonder, now!--just take it in your head To have such things all growing in a lovely garden bed?

[Ill.u.s.tration: {DRINKING FROM A LEMONADE SPRING.}]

"And then I should have planted (if it only had been me) Some vines with little pickles, and a great big cooky tree; And trees, besides, with gum-drops and caramels and things; And lemonade should bubble up in all the little springs.

"I'd like to have the coasting and the skating in July, When old Jack Frost would never get a single chance to try To nip our cheeks and noses; and the Christmas trees should stand By dozens, loaded!--in the woods!--now, wouldn't that be grand?

[Ill.u.s.tration: {PICKING UNUSUAL PLANTS.}]

"Ah! what a world it would have been! How could you, madam, make Such lots of bread and b.u.t.ter to so very little cake?

I'd have it just the other way, and every one would see How very, very, very, very nice my way would be.

"But, as I cannot do it, will you think of what I say?

And please, ma'am, _do_ begin and alter things this very day.

And one thing more--on Sat.u.r.days don't send us any rain.

Good-by. If I should think of something else, I'll write again."

SYDNEY DAYRE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A BOY PLAYING A PIPE TO A DOG.}]

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A BOY AND A GIRL.}]

OUR MAY-DAY AT THE SOUTH.

Out in the woods we went to-day: Mamma and Nannie, Freddie and May, Charlie and I, and good old Tray, Out in the greenwood to romp and play.

To-day, you know, is the first of May; And we meant to be so jolly and gay: And celebrate in so merry a way That we could never forget this holiday.

So first we chose the loveliest queen, The dearest and sweetest that ever was seen; For mamma herself was Her Highness Serene, And we crowned her with rosebuds and evergreen.

Then we kneeled around and vowed to obey All the laws she made, not only to-day, But all the year through. Then she waved a spray Of lilac bloom, and bade us all be gay.

Oh the games we played, and the races we run!

The bars we leaped, and the prizes we won!

Oh the shouting, the singing, the laughter and fun,-- It were hard to tell who was the happiest one!

Then, rosy and tired, we gathered around Our beautiful queen on the mossy ground; The hungriest group in the land, I'll be bound.

As the sandwiches, cookies, and tarts went round.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {ENJOYING GAMES AND A PICNIC.}]

When the sun was low and shadows were gray, Down from her throne stepped our fair Queen of May, And through the green fields led homeward our way, While we gave her sweet thanks for this beautiful day.

L. A. B. C.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {SHIPS NEAR A LIGHT-HOUSE.}]

BERTIE'S STORY AND MINE.

"Tell me a story about a bear, A great big bear who lived in a wood And ate little children." "O, my dear, The bears I know of were playful and good, And lived in houses or parks or a pen, And never ate children, or boys, or men.

"There was one snow white, a mother bear,-- With two little babies cunning and queer; Who rolled and climbed and stood on their heads, And fell over, as boys often do, I fear.

They hugged their mother, and talked in their way, And kept still when they'd nothing to do or say."

"No, I mean a real bear out in the woods, Who growls and chases you, makes you run, Half scared to death,--and a little boy lost Out in the woods and the night coming on; And the terrible bear with his great fierce eyes, And no one to hear the little child's cries!

"He runs and runs,"--and then Bertie smiles, His climax reached,--"I was only in fun; The bear didn't kill him, because, you see, There was just behind a man with a gun, And he shot! Bang! Down came the old bear; 'Twas his own little boy and he saved him--there!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: {BERTIE AND THE BEAR.}]

"O, I am so glad!" and I give him a kiss; Then silent we sit for a moment or two.

"That's a boy's story; yours, you know, For nice little girls very well will do.

But boys, you remember, grow up to be men, And can fight the bears to their very den."

AMANDA M. DOUGLAS.

THE PORCUPINE'S QUILLS.

Every animal has an instrument of defence. Some have claws, some hoofs, some spurs and beaks, some powerful teeth and stings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A PORCUPINE FENDS OFF A DOG.}]

The porcupine has something queerer than all these. Its body is covered all over with two sets of quills. One set is long, slender, and curved; the other, short and straight, very stout, and with sharp points.

Whenever the porcupine is chased by any animal, and finds he cannot get out of the way, he just stops and bristles up all his quills. Then he backs quickly upon the animal, so that the short, sharp quills may stick into the body. If any happen to be a little loose, they stick so fast in the flesh, like an arrow, that they often make a very bad wound. Remember this whenever you come in the way of the porcupine.

MRS. G. HALL.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

I was watching Willie and Grouse at play on the lawn a few days since.